If you want to make a video of a party, event or concert, it's best to have a clear idea first. Where will you shoot the video? How long? What will you do with it next? Make sure that your shots do not remain closed inside the camera; learn how to mount them professionally and share them with your friends. Read this article to learn how to make a great video.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Shoot the Video
Step 1. Get a video camera
Depending on the reasons you want to shoot a video, you may want to invest in a high-quality video camera to make a project that looks professional, or use whatever comes your way to save money. Whatever the case may be, retrieving a video camera to shoot the video must be the first thing to do.
- There camera of a smartphone it is very simple to use. However, the framing can be a bit unstable and the sound quality is usually not the best, but if you want to make a video quickly and easily, using the phone can be a good idea.
- The digital cameras they usually also have the video option, and some are quite cheap and of a fairly high quality. SD memory cameras are user-friendly and can now be found everywhere.
- Prices of HD camcorders they have a rather wide range, from hundreds to thousands of euros, and guarantee a decidedly professional audio-video quality. Many low-budget Hollywood films have been shot with inexpensive HD cameras that you can also find in the most common electronics stores (Saturn, MediaWorld, etc.).
Step 2. Find the best angles
Whether you're filming a birthday party, concert, wedding, or other type of event, get to the location early and try to figure out the best angles to shoot the video. Find a couple of comfortable spots and turn from different angles to have various material to assemble and finalize into a nice product.
- If you have an assistant, you can shoot from different angles at the same time to be able to choose between different cuts during the editing phase. The final product will certainly have a more professional and refined look.
- Try not to get in the way of people, especially if there is a large crowd. Your intent is to shoot a good video from the right angle, but keep in mind that there will be other people around you. Make sure everyone has an unobstructed view, and run from a reasonable distance.
Step 3. Continue shooting
To be able to capture spontaneous moments, keep shooting! Choose the right moment to start and let the camera warm up waiting for the action you want to capture. For example, if you only turn on the camera when you see your child is about to go to the network, you probably won't have time to capture that beautiful moment. If, on the other hand, you start spinning earlier, you will be ready.
Don't try to edit the video in real time. It is best to avoid many stops and restarts during filming, as you may forget when a certain sequence has been shot, which is not a problem if you make a single movie instead. During the editing phase you can instead eliminate unnecessary scenes; camcorders usually have a lot of free space, so take advantage of it
Step 4. Remain as still as possible
If you use the video camera on your phone, or otherwise a video camera that is not fixed on a tripod, try to keep it as still as possible. Trembling and blurring from an unsteady hand can frustrate all the work. Sit down while you shoot and, if necessary, rest your arms on your knees, or buy a tripod.
A common mistake on iPhone cameras is holding the phone vertically, rather than horizontally. When you then upload the video to your PC to edit it, you will notice the presence of two annoying sidebars on the screen. Instead, turn in "Landscape" mode and hold your phone horizontally. Here you will see it sideways, but on the PC you will find that the result will be better
Step 5. Get as close as possible to the shooting subject if you want to capture the sound as well
If you only use the microphone inside the camera, you will have some difficulty recording sound, unless you are particularly close to the subject.
Method 2 of 2: Mount the Video
Step 1. Upload all footage to your computer
After shooting the entire movie, upload it to your PC and edit it. Most cameras can be connected to the PC via USB or via the removable SD memory from the camera itself. Follow the instructions in the manual of the camera you will have used.
Save the raw movie separately, so during the editing phase you will be able to make all the necessary changes, always having the possibility to return to the original file. You can always start over
Step 2. Download video editing software
Unless you have shot perfect footage and therefore want to keep the video as it is, you should get an intuitive editing software that allows you to cut, add music and adjust various types of adjustments. If you want to add captions or improve the audio, you will necessarily need this type of software.
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Between the popular free editing software there are:
- iMovie.
- Windows Movie Maker.
- Avidemux.
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Others editing software, more professional:
- Apple Final Cut Pro.
- Corel VideoStudio Pro.
- Adobe Premiere Elements.
Make a Video Step 8 Step 3. Cut off unnecessary parts
Once the entire movie has been loaded into the software, start cutting everything you prefer that is not part of the final result. Cut out sequences that tend to repeat themselves, and collect only the best shots. Depending on the video you intend to make, you could decide between an informal and "wavering" result, or choose a more precise and professional product. Do things according to the criteria you have in mind.
Make a Video Step 9 Step 4. Don't be afraid to rearrange the scenes
Move the sequences in any way you think will enhance the final video. If you are filming a party or other event of this type, don't worry about telling the reality too faithfully, and make the final product in the best possible way. Tell a story.
Make a Video Step 10 Step 5. Add transitions to enhance the final product
Most editing software includes many options that allow you to add a transition between one scene and another, making it easy to move the various sequences. Avoid hard cuts, unless it's an effect you want to insert for some reason.
iMovie and other types of software have many special fades and transitions that you can use, but do it in moderation. If you get too caught up, the large number of effects could distract from watching the video. Stay true to the content and remember that the main thing is the video itself, not the fancy transitions you've just learned to insert
Make a Video Step 11 Step 6. Add sound effects or music
If it matches the video you intend to make, add some music you have on your PC and use it as a soundtrack to emphasize some passages of the video, or remove the entire sound present in the video and replace it with a song. It can be a good way to bypass the problems associated with poor quality audio footage from a phone.
Make a Video Step 12 Step 7. Finish the project
When you're done, finish the project by exporting the final video file, as an.avi or.mov. Open with playback software like Windows Media Player or Quicktime and take a look at your work.
Make a Video Step 13 Step 8. Share the video
After exporting the file, consider sharing your work with others. You could burn the video to a DVD and give physical copies to people. It is an interesting option especially if you have filmed a wedding or some other private event attended by a few people who may be interested in having a copy of the video.
- If you think the video might have more appeal, upload it to YouTube. If it doesn't take too long, you can create a YouTube account and upload it relatively quickly. It will be online in no time and you can share it with anyone you want.
- If you want to upload the video online, but would prefer it to remain private, you can upload it to Vimeo. You can protect the video with a password, so as to make it visible only to the people you want to provide it to.
